Game Review: Warhawk (PS3)

Sony's long-awaited revitalization of the original Warhawk proves to be an …

After all the waiting and distribution questions surrounding Warhawk, the game is finally available: either in retail for $60 with a Bluetooth headset or by way of the PlayStation Store for $40. Regardless of which version you buy, you're getting what amounts to not only the best multiplayer title on the system, but also one of the best open-battlefield shooters to date.

On paper, Warhawk looks to be nothing more than another Shadowrun. There's no single player campaign: only local and online multiplayer. And though there's split-screen, Warhawk doesn't include bots. There are only five maps—even less maps than Shadowrun shipped with. However, in depth, scale, and price, Warhawk truly outclasses FASA Studio's failed shooter.

Warhawk is a fast-paced, arcade-style, third-person, open-battlefield shooter where the player can fight on foot, in vehicles, or in aircraft. There are four play modes: the staple deathmatch and team deatchmatch, a large-scale version of capture the flag, and the push-and-pull territorial warfare familiar to those who've played what Battlefield or Battlefront called "zones."

Though there are only a handful of different maps, the sheer scale of each one is amazing; some are over 5 square virtual miles. Vehicles, at that point, become a necessity. In addition, each map has numerous different configurations based on user selection and the number of players in a given game, which keeps things fresh.

Ground combat is the standard fare, though the weapon balance is certainly the highlight. The optional SixAxis control for the vehicles is nice, though hardly a necessity. While the game features all the weapons and ground vehicles we've seen in other multiplayer games, to win consistently you'll need to use air support: the titular Warhawk.

Aerial combat is where the game reallyshines. Though there are a ton of different modes and map settings to alter the play-style of a given game, I found myself returning to Dogfighting—a deathmatch variant using only planes—again and again simply because the SixAxis control is phenomenal; control proved to be incredibly responsive after twiddling with the sensitivity options slightly, and I now find myself capable of some rather extraordinary maneuvers. Most importantly, it just feels good—even if it looks ridiculous. Simply put, this is the game that proves the SixAxis does indeed work and can work well.

The learning curve of the game—especially in the air—is extremely steep. Lack of a tutorial and a rather sparse manual does little to help. The only way to learn in this case is by doing. This is the kind of humbling experience that some may be put off by. I'm used to doing extremely well in online shooters, but I was quickly put into my place and have yet to recover to any significant degree. This game is hard. Part of that difficulty stems from the controls. Aerial combat utilizes both analog sticks and the SixAxis tilting for plane control, which proves to be daunting at first, although extremely effective with practice. It may take a few days, but eventually you'll begin to master the nuances of your craft and learn how to use the air power-sliding and free-form stunt maneuvers to dodge locked swarm missiles or deftly ambush an unsuspecting enemy.

While the gameplay of soldiers on foot being backed by players in the air is incredibly solid, there is one significant issue that puts a damper on the game entirely. Currently, the ranking system is broken. Apparently, there have been bugs with the system which have caused player progress to be constantly erased. The team at Incognito is working on the issue but, until its sorted out, the game's rank-dependent unlockable content—paint jobs, custom clothing, and so forth—is currently inaccessible. As ranking is one of the one and only progression element for the game, this is a huge problem, and the last two patches pushed out to address this rank issue have not been successful.

Ultimately, Warhawk is a stellar title that suffers from only one really significant issue. The game's finely-tuned balance, complex and intricate maps and variants, and phenomenal presentation make Warhawk a title that you'll play not for days or weeks, but months and potentially even years. The online play is seamless and performs well; thanks in no small part to the excellent servers. If Incognito can get the ranking working in the near future, I see no reason why Warhawk wouldn't be a must-buy title for anyone but the most staunch anti-Battlefield gamers.